Photo: Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports
After defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, the Washington Capitals will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is the first time in 20 years that the Capitals had made it past the second round. The series begins with Game 1 on Friday May 11 at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is at 8 p.m.
Game 2 will take place on Sunday night at 8 p.m. The series shifts to Washington for Games 3 and 4 that will occur next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Both games will start at 8 p.m.
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL SCHEDULE IS HERE! #ALLCAPS #CapsBolts https://t.co/l2J2RTXwNy pic.twitter.com/mtMc5xliA2
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 8, 2018
If necessary, the series will go back to Tampa for a Game 5 on Saturday May 19 with a 7:15 p.m puck drop while Game 6 will be in D.C. on Monday, May 21. The decisive Game 7, should this series be tied at three game will be in Tampa. on Wednesday, May 23. All games will begin at 8 p.m. with the exception of Game 5.
This series marks the third time in franchise history the Caps have taken on the Lightning in a playoff series. The Lightning have the first two playoff meetings, defeating the Caps in six games in 2003 and again in 2011 in a four-game sweep.
FROM THE CAPITALS
The National Hockey League announced today the 2018 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Final schedule and broadcast information for the series between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning, which begins Friday, May 11 at 8 p.m. at Amalie Arena in Tampa. NBC Sports Group will have exclusive coverage of the Conference final locally and nationally.
Washington will host Game 3, Game 4 and, if necessary, Game 6 in the Eastern Conference final.
Information on single game tickets for the Eastern Conference Final will be released at a later date. Capitals full season tickets are available for purchase now by contacting the sales office at 202-266-CAPS.
This marks the third meeting between the Capitals and the Lightning in the playoffs and the first since 2011. The Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in franchise history and the first time since 1998. Caps captain Alex Ovechkin, who has recorded a point in nine of the Capitals’ 12 playoff games, is tied for the NHL lead in points (15) among players in the Conference Finals. This postseason, the Capitals have had seven rookies participate in the playoffs, the most in franchise history.
NBC Sports Washington will surround all seven potential third-round games with more than two hours of live Capitals news, analysis and commentary. Coverage will include pregame and postgame live from Capital One Arena for Caps home games and from Amalie Arena in Tampa for Caps road games. Caps FaceOff will be presented for a half hour leading into Caps GameTime pregame show coverage taking you right up to game time. After games, Caps Overtime will extend postgame coverage for up to an hour following Caps Extra. The shows will be fan-focused, allowing Caps fans to participate in coverage of the day’s most compelling topics and storylines. The Caps GameTime pregame show and Caps Extra postgame show will be hosted by Rob Carlin, and will feature analyst Alan May, as well as Caps Insider Tarik El-Bashir and Caps game broadcasters Joe Beninati and Craig “Locker” Laughlin. Caps FaceOff and Caps Overtime will be hosted by 106.7 the Fan’s Grant Paulsen, with guest analysts including Courtney Laughlin and “hot takes” from Caps fans across the region.
All Capitals playoff games are broadcast on 106.7 The Fan and on the 24-hour radio channel, Caps Radio 24/7, devoted specifically to the Capitals. In addition to broadcasting all games, Caps Radio 24/7 will continue to provide instant news and access to the Capitals, including live game audio, exclusive Capitals playoff-related hockey content throughout the day. The channel is available through the Caps Mobile App by accessing the “Caps Radio 24/7″ button at the bottom of the home screen, through WashingtonCaps.com and also through TuneIn radio, a free app that helps people find and listen to music, sports, news and talk content on the web.
Follow @CapitalsPR on Twitter for updated team schedule, information and updates.
Date Time (ET) Tampa Bay vs. Washington Networks
Friday, May 11 8 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay NBCSN, TVA Sports
Sunday, May 13 8 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay NBCSN, TVA Sports
Tuesday, May 15 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Washington NBCSN, TVA Sports
Thursday, May 17 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Washington NBCSN, TVA Sports
*Saturday, May 19 7:15 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay NBC, TVA Sports
*Monday, May 21 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Washington NBCSN, TVA Sports
*Wednesday, May 23 8 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay NBCSN, TVA Sports
*if necessary
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
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